TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of the adherence of community health workers to dosing and referral guidelines for the management of fever in children under 5 years
T2 - a study in Dangme West District, Ghana.
AU - Chinbuah, Margaret A.
AU - Abbey, Mercy
AU - Kager, Piet A.
AU - Gyapong, Margaret
AU - Nonvignon, Justice
AU - Ashitey, Philipina
AU - Akpakli, Jonas
AU - Appiatse, Shirley Ann A.
AU - Kubi, David
AU - Gyapong, John O.
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - Community health workers (CHW) manage simple childhood illnesses in many developing countries. Information on CHWs' referral practices is limited. As part of a large cluster-randomised trial, this study assessed CHWs' adherence to dosing and referral guidelines. Records of consultations of children aged 2-59 months with fever managed by CHWs were analysed. Appropriate use of drugs was defined as provision of the correct drug pack(s) for the child's age group. Symptoms requiring referral were categorised into danger signs, respiratory distress and symptoms indicating other illnesses. Multivariate logistic regression examined symptoms most likely to be noted as requiring referral and those associated with provision of a written referral. Most children (11 659/12 330; 94.6%) received the appropriate drug. Only 161 of 1758 (9.2%) children who, according to the guidelines required referral were provided with a written referral. Not drinking/breastfeeding, persistent vomiting, unconsciousness/lethargy, difficultly breathing, fast breathing, bloody stool, sunken eyes and pallor were symptoms significantly associated with being identified by CHWs as needing referral or receiving a written referral. CHWs' adherence to dosing guidelines was high. Adherence to referral guidelines was inadequate. More effort needs to be put into strengthening referral practices of CHWs within comparable community programmes.
AB - Community health workers (CHW) manage simple childhood illnesses in many developing countries. Information on CHWs' referral practices is limited. As part of a large cluster-randomised trial, this study assessed CHWs' adherence to dosing and referral guidelines. Records of consultations of children aged 2-59 months with fever managed by CHWs were analysed. Appropriate use of drugs was defined as provision of the correct drug pack(s) for the child's age group. Symptoms requiring referral were categorised into danger signs, respiratory distress and symptoms indicating other illnesses. Multivariate logistic regression examined symptoms most likely to be noted as requiring referral and those associated with provision of a written referral. Most children (11 659/12 330; 94.6%) received the appropriate drug. Only 161 of 1758 (9.2%) children who, according to the guidelines required referral were provided with a written referral. Not drinking/breastfeeding, persistent vomiting, unconsciousness/lethargy, difficultly breathing, fast breathing, bloody stool, sunken eyes and pallor were symptoms significantly associated with being identified by CHWs as needing referral or receiving a written referral. CHWs' adherence to dosing guidelines was high. Adherence to referral guidelines was inadequate. More effort needs to be put into strengthening referral practices of CHWs within comparable community programmes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84883323793&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/inthealth/ihs008
DO - 10.1093/inthealth/ihs008
M3 - Article
C2 - 24030115
AN - SCOPUS:84883323793
SN - 1876-3413
VL - 5
SP - 148
EP - 156
JO - International Health
JF - International Health
IS - 2
ER -